First Steps to School Readiness: South Carolina's Response to At-Risk Early Childhood Population.

Buford, Rhonda; Stegelin, Dolores A.

Journal of At-Risk Issues, v9 n1 p1-4 Win 2003

Describes South Carolina's new state early childhood program, First Steps to School Readiness. Includes a profile of the state's at-risk child population, noting poverty and education risk indicators, and describing key program components. The article discusses program oversight, local program partnerships, program funding mechanisms, and local activities and services, focusing on the critical role of early childhood state policy making. (SM)